Chapter 298 – Heavenly Demon’s Magic (7)

In the realm of beast taming.
Or perhaps, it would be more fitting to call it avian taming.

Two individuals who arrived early in the morning gazed at me with bewildered expressions.

[White hair. I shall pluck it for you.]
[Lucy, don’t get too attached.]
[Even the princess…]

The number of birds had increased by one.
Moreover, it was extremely docile.

“Good heavens.”
“Si-heon… What on earth have you been up to?”

Even the sage who had experienced countless absurdities in his life couldn’t suppress his astonishment.

[…Comfort me. Okay? Quickly. I feel like I’m going mad.]

The wooden bird alighted on my shoulder and nuzzled its face against mine.
It gently pecked at my neck with its beak, careful not to cause pain.
With its short yet soft wings, it tenderly embraced my neck.

[Master~]

“Ah, master?”

Marronnier gazed at me in astonishment upon hearing the name of the tree spirit.

It is quite uncommon for a master-servant relationship to be established with a spirit. Unlike Earth, where humans and tree beings coexist, a single species rules the hidden realm. Spirits, magical entities, are more sensitive to magic than the world tree and hold great authority.

“It’s practically impossible for a spirit sage to have such a relationship with a spirit. It would be understandable if the spirit were the master. This one isn’t even a beginner-level spirit…”
“I didn’t intend for it to go this far either.”

The contract was simple.
However, having been treated like royalty, the tree spirit’s childish antics and tantrums remained unchanged.

I had no choice but to engage in something akin to taming while simultaneously forming the contract.
Leisurely, throughout the entire dawn.

“Here.”

As I extended my finger over my shoulder, the tree spirit gently pecked at it.
This was a sign of a bird’s affection.

[Ah…]

The woodpecker, which had been plucking white hairs from my head, froze in place.

“Do you want some too?”

[…Yes, Master.]

Here in the spirit world, there is a being that protects the wooden balbari. Her name is known to be Lucy.

“Are you jealous of the princess you’re supposed to protect?”
[I am ashamed… but it is my Master’s fault.]
“Come here.”
[…Sigh.]

Similarly, when he reached out, the woodpecker hesitated for quite a while before nestling into his hand. She prefers to be held firmly, almost to the point of feeling slightly constricted.

“Good heavens.”
“Is it that fascinating?”
“…Even if you brought a renowned spirit summoner, they wouldn’t be able to accomplish this.”

Marronnier’s reaction went beyond astonishment, as she seemed to deny reality itself.

“The spirit’s responsiveness doesn’t seem that exceptional. If you don’t mind, wise one, could you tell me how this was possible?”

Marronnier inquired of the sage, who appeared deep in thought with a hand resting on her cheek. It seemed that this situation was also beyond her expectations.

“Even so, she is a high-ranking spirit of Arcadia… Hmm. It could be possible due to Siheon’s magical power. It’s truly astonishing. I’ve gained valuable knowledge.”

“What are you talking about?”
“Siheon’s magical traits are unique. No, should I say one-of-a-kind?”

Marronnier couldn’t comprehend her words at all.
A story known only to us.

“…Not just strength, but it was originally a body devoid of magic. After several transformations, it even experienced something close to an awakening.”

The sage glanced at the two spirits and extended his hand.
Naturally, my spirit had no interest in the sage’s hand.

[What? Go away!]
“Tree-footed one.”
[Yes, Master?]
“Speak kindly.”
[…Understood.]

He lowered his head, sullen.
Having listened to the conversation from the side, I began to grasp the situation.

Just as there are individuals whose wavelengths match the World Tree, there are those whose wavelengths align with spirits.
Spiritual resonance is an example of this.
A sense that allows one to see and interact with a world invisible to others since childhood.
While I may not know, such individuals exist, and it is said that this is the fundamental aptitude of a spirit mage.

I’ve heard that Elata, an S-class hunter, has befriended hundreds of spirits.

‘Magical power serves a role similar to spirit resonance.’

Being magical beings, they are drawn to magical energy. I know this from hearing it several times from tree-dwelling spirits and woodpeckers.

…Though it’s odd to hear them emit such peculiar moans from a listener’s perspective. It means my magic is truly unique.

Magic power forcibly awakened after being pulled from another world. Naturally, it would differ from other hunters living in this world. Furthermore, as a descendant of King Mokryeong and having inherited the Heavenly Demon’s techniques, my magic power is something the spirits would never taste even if they waited for centuries.

“Well, it’s a better outcome than expected. Isn’t it smooth sailing?”

The sage spoke to me in Korean, even using idiomatic expressions. I was momentarily taken aback by the familiar Korean, but there’s no way this person wouldn’t know a foreign language.

I nodded once.

“I’ll teach you at a leisurely pace, Marronnier.”

“Thank you. I just can’t understand.”

Of course, he would explain, but he winked at me, signaling he would conceal the harsher aspects.
A mutual understanding.
Having spent quite some time with the sage, I’ve grown adept at discerning his actions and emotions.

It’s only natural that he’s clever and perceptive.
He’s rather endearing when flustered.

‘…It would be frightening if all the behaviors he presents to me were fabricated.’

Nevertheless, thanks to the sage, I managed to forge contracts with two spirits each.
In many ways, such as the magical stone, I indeed received his grace.

‘Just one more step.’

Heavenly Demon’s magic.
The words seem contradictory, yet my heart races.
It won’t be long before this unprecedented magic is born.

– Chirp.
– Slurp~

In this process, the assistance of these two spirits was indispensable.
I caressed the wooden spaniel.
I’ve always preferred pets to people who might betray me at any moment.

Better than a tree.

Ah.
Of course, excluding Shiba.

* * * * * * * *

I believe there exists a princess and a female knight who were subjugated by lowly humans.

Having been corrupted by their touch, they became prisoners to men.

[Ahhh!]

Yet to my eyes, they are nothing but mere birds.
Just as the World Tree yields to King Mokryeong, spirits too can be subdued.

Eleanor.
The sparrow’s feet, holding out its white belly to me, tightened and then loosened.

[…Master… I am your… servant…]
“Alright, did you understand?”
[Whether I understand… or not…]

Aside from the reaction being a bit sticky,
both spirits excel in strength and rank.

The spirits initially summoned and contracted by elementalists are, at best, beginner spirits who cannot properly wield magical powers.
I’ve heard they can barely cast a fireball, but it’s better to become a wizard than to make a contract with such spirits.

On the other hand, these beings each possess their own unique magic.

A woodpecker that conjures a radiant yellow sword in the air.
Rumor has it that the tree-legged creature also holds a secret technique of the royal family.

Of course, it’s difficult to determine their rank as they have never been evaluated or demonstrated their abilities elsewhere.
Nevertheless, I know they are skillful, having witnessed their prowess firsthand.

“Observe closely.”

I spread my fingers and release a faint trace of magical energy.
It’s not mixed with mana; it’s the very essence of magic itself.

A perilous force that could cause the entire training ground to explode if one were to lose focus even for a moment.
Should it run amok, not even I could escape severe injury.

Moreover, since magic disrupts the very essence of things, it doesn’t respond well to healing powers.
Only through the continuous infusion of divine energy can it be gradually restored.
Of course, due to this, the healing abilities have experienced considerable growth.

‘Once Cornus’s treatment is complete, I’ll need to inflict wounds with magic and consistently heal them.’

The power of healing is the driving force that allows me to contend with S-rank hunters.

If it were someone else, they would have undoubtedly chosen to avoid confrontation, considering the risk of serious injury. However, I can heal immediately. As long as I don’t use the black sword, my abilities are on par with or slightly surpass those of other S-rank individuals. This is why I can overwhelm them.

The fact that I can fight without tiring, remain unaffected by my physical condition, and engage in battle even if one of my arms is severed, proves to be more valuable than any other ability I possess. It is worth enduring the pain to cultivate this power.

Returning to the story:

“I plan to use magic by combining this energy with mana.”

I asked the two adorable birds perched on the desk.

“Can you do it?”

A tiny black dragon crawled along my finger.

– Chirp.

Soon after, the wooden footbar spoke cautiously.

“[…I can’t do this alone, Master.]
“Really? You little woodpecker.”
[Woodpecker… I wish you would call me Lucy… Ah, never mind. It’s a power called Magi. It’s my first time seeing it, but it seems quite difficult.]

Indeed, it might be.
Even the spirits, known for their supreme dignity in wielding magical power, are challenged by this task.
It wasn’t in vain that I tried my best before reaching the brink of giving up.

[However, as the princess said, with two spirits… it seems nothing is impossible.]
“Mixing is not the only important aspect. Understand?”
[You mean that efficiency is crucial. We may need some trial and error. It seems at least two days are necessary… Master.]

It must be due to her military background.
Her speech is clear and her judgment is swift.
I appreciate that her words don’t trail off ambiguously.

“Good. Lucy, you communicate well. I like that.”
[…To be liked, that’s quite unexpected. Hehe.]

A woodpecker, slightly raising its wings to cover its beak.

The woodpecker, who had been intently watching him, chirped urgently.

[I, I can do it!]
[Yo, Your Highness?]
[I’ll do it on my own. I am the third princess of Arcadia. Even just me and my master…]
[Your Highness, this is a dangerous task. Absolutely not alone.]
[I hate you, Lucy!]

It seems like the princess is jealous of her own knight.
Somehow, the relationship between the two contracted spirits is getting worse.
To calm them down, I infused magical energy into both birds one after the other.

With a slight smack on the upper part of the buttocks,

[…Hmmph.]
[…Waaah!]

Instantly quiet, the two look at me.

“You two need to work together. What if you bicker and make a mistake, causing the magic to go awry and I get hurt?”
[We’re sorry…]

The woodpecker, now composed, carefully perched on my arm.
The tree spaniel also climbed up my arm, circling around it.

[We need to establish contact, Master. We must intervene during the casting of the spell… Princess, let’s start lightly.]
[…Yes.]

As we assumed our positions, it was as if two birds clung to my arms. To do it properly, I brought the mistletoe with me.

The mistletoe swiftly transformed into a staff-like shape when imbued with magical energy. It greatly aided in the concentration and manipulation of mana.

Though I had never used Magi before, I calculated that the mistletoe, having bloomed from Cheondo’s body, would be able to withstand the strain.

The spell I intended to cast was the Fireball, which I had previously failed. As I infused my magic with intent, black mana swirled like a haze within my hand.

Simultaneously, black mana erupted from the bodies of the two birds attached to my arms. It felt as if we had become one entity.

‘Indeed.’

My body was noticeably lighter compared to when I had inadvertently activated the spell before.

The fatigue was lessened, and it felt as though the three of us shared the burden of lifting a heavy and large desk.

It’s easy to find balance and, above all, it’s lightweight.

Magi is a force that even I struggle to control right now.
I attempted to avoid using it until I could handle it on my own, but this makes it effortless.

– Ssssss.

The magical power converging along a single point on the staff.
At the end, a black flame emerged, attracting all the surrounding light.

Suddenly, the thought crossed my mind that if I were to unleash it, I might turn the area into a wasteland.
So, I advanced further.
As close to the center of the training room as possible, ensuring that even if it were to explode, it wouldn’t reach the desk where I had been sitting.
Barely maintaining a safe distance, I hurled a fireball towards the center.

– Roaring!

Novice level.
However, the amount of magical power is so significant that it surpasses advanced levels.

With magi mixed in, the destructive power is unfathomable.

As the flame that left my hand reached the center,

– Chirp.

A bird cried out.

– Thud!

Perhaps it was due to the storm, but I found myself pushed toward the edge of the training room, eventually hitting my head against the solid wall.

[…] Incredible!]
[Master, my lord!]

Instantly, the two spirits cast healing magic to envelop me. Thanks to their efforts, my mild headache vanished without the need to use any special powers. The pain wasn’t severe, but I had sustained burns on my hands due to the lack of physical reinforcement.

Though the flames posed no threat to powerful demons or hunters,

‘If I infuse more magic… and expand it with various spells…’

I dusted off my legs and stood up. The scorched marks remained in the center of the training ground, an ominous black reminder.

A grin spread across my face as I took in the scene.

I had discovered immense potential.